Christie: Surgery personal, not political

Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday offered fresh details about his recent lap-band surgery when he called in to POLITICO’s Playbook Cocktails, describing the difficulties facing people who struggle with weight and expressing confidence in his own progress.

“I wasn’t trying to make a public statement about this, I wasn’t trying to make a political statement about this,” he said over speakerphone, surprising the audience that packed the Grand Ballroom at Washington’s Mayflower Hotel. “It was a really difficult intense personal decision that I consulted with doctors, I spent a lot of time talking to Mary Pat, and the children beforehand …and so it was an intensely personal decision to do this.”

“It’s just been very interesting talking to Mika and getting her insight into the fact that people really do misunderstand this issue in a lot of ways,” the New Jersey Republican told the audience after Brzezinski took his call on stage. “It’s really the only still-acceptable form of discrimination in our country is against people who are overweight.”

Christie, a possible 2016 candidate known for his no-nonsense manner, opened up about the challenges facing people who battle with their weight.

“Most people are ignorant on the subject,” Christie said. “What happens when you get into public life … you just have to learn to deal with it. Anytime you’re trying to educate people about it, if you yourself are overweight, then most people who aren’t informed on the subject just think you’re making excuses for yourself. Most people think it’s just an issue of willpower or that kind of thing and it’s a heck of a lot more complicated thanthat. Anyone who has had these problems over the years knows that.”